PRESS BRIEFING BY HON. PRINCESS CHINWE CLARA NNABUIFE (MEMBER REPRESENTING ORUMBA NORTH AND SOUTH FEDERAL CONSTITUENCY) ON THE OGBOJI INCIDENT
Date: 3rd July, 2025
Venue: National Assembly Press Centre, Abuja
Ladies and Gentlemen of the Press,
Distinguished Colleagues,
Fellow Nigerians,
It is with a heavy heart and a deep sense of national responsibility that I address you today on a tragic incident that recently occurred in Ogboji, a town in Orumba South Local Government Area of Anambra State, which lies within the federal constituency I am privileged to represent.
A violent attack occurred during a meeting of members of the Ebonyi community in Ogboji, resulting in the untimely death of at least ten (10) persons. The victims, all of Ebonyi State extraction, were lawful residents of Ogboji and members of the Ebonyi Union. They were allegedly attacked by unknown assailants during what was meant to be a routine community gathering.
Let me begin by condemning this horrific act in the strongest possible terms. No Nigerian citizen deserves to be murdered in cold blood under any circumstance. This is an attack on our collective humanity, and it must not go unanswered.
Based on preliminary information gathered from survivors, eyewitnesses, community leaders, and security operatives, the incident appears to have stemmed from an internal leadership dispute within the Ebonyi Union in Ogboji. Credible reports suggest that the conflict, regrettably, escalated and allegedly involved the invitation of external armed elements, which led to this avoidable loss of lives.
Importantly, all indications show that this was neither an ethnic nor a communal conflict, but rather an intra-group crisis among members of the same ethnic background. I want to emphasize here that Ebonyi indigenes have lived peacefully in Ogboji community for years going about their businesses without any form of harassment or intimidation from their host community.
Further details provided by the President General of the Ogboji Town Union, and corroborated by concerned residents, indicate that prior to the attack, the Chairman and seven members of the Ebonyi Union in Ogboji had formally petitioned the Town Union against the operations of a splinter group. According to their report, the splinter group had unlawfully broken away and absconded with key Union materials, including the minute book, financial records, cash, and other valuables. This leadership crisis reportedly came to a head in March 2025, when the splinter group publicly distanced itself from the parent body. In response, the parent body insisted on their return. Notably, the alleged leader of the splinter group — who also happens to be the Chairman and one of the victims of the attack — has since volunteered a formal statement to the Police, further validating this sequence of events.
In the wake of the incident, the Ogboji Town Union, in concert with local youth vigilante groups, community leaders, and stakeholders, responded promptly to stabilise the situation. Victims were quickly evacuated for medical care, and arrangements were made for the burial and welfare of the deceased. These efforts helped to prevent further escalation, and I commend them for their swift and coordinated response.
I also wish to commend the Ebonyi community in Ogboji for the remarkable calm, maturity, and restraint they have exhibited in the face of such profound loss. Their conduct is a beacon of hope and unity in these trying times.
I now call on all relevant security agencies — including the Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services (DSS), and the Anambra and Ebonyi State Governments — to launch a full-scale, transparent, and impartial investigation into this heinous act. Those responsible for this atrocity must be identified, prosecuted, and brought to justice without delay. Our democracy cannot thrive in the midst of impunity.
Furthermore, I urge the Federal Government, through the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, to extend immediate support to the victims’ families, including relief assistance, medical care, and psychological support for the injured and bereaved.
Finally, I appeal to Nigerians across all media platforms — both traditional and social — to avoid the spread of misinformation or narratives that could inflame passions or distort the true nature of the tragedy. This is not the time for blame or sensationalism. It is a moment for sober reflection, national solidarity, and truth. Let us allow the relevant institutions to handle the matter with professionalism and objectivity.
My deepest condolences go to the bereaved families, the people of Ebonyi State, and the peaceful residents of Ogboji. I stand with you in grief and in hope. As your representative, I remain fully committed to ensuring that justice is served and that such a tragedy never occurs again.
May the souls of the departed rest in perfect peace, and may peace and justice reign in Ogboji, Anambra State, and across Nigeria.
Thank you and God bless.
Hon. Princess Chinwe Clara Nnabuife
Member Representing Orumba North & South Federal Constituency
House of Representatives, National Assembly.
